Secretary Mineta Presents Sept. 11 Memorial Quilt to Pentagon

Contact BTS 22-02 David Smallen 202-366-5568

"On behalf of those who created and crafted it, I am proud to present this extraordinary quilt to the Department of Defense in the memory of the 74 women who died at the Pentagon," Mineta said in presenting the quilt to June Forte, curator of Pentagon quilts. "I can think of no finer way to honor the women who died than to let the warmth of this quilt sustain the spirit that resides in all of us."

Tuesday, August 27, 2002 -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today led a "Hearts and Hands Across the Potomac" ceremony, unveiling a quilt sewn by women from the Department of Transportation to honor the women who died at the Pentagon on Sept.11.

With squares crafted by women from throughout DOT, the 84-square quilt has a flag in the middle and a gold star containing the name of every woman who died at the Pentagon and on Flight 77. Women in the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) sewed the nine-by-nine tribute squares together to form the quilt.

Ashish K. Sen, BTS Director, said, "This quilt is a source of pride because it arose from within the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It came from our agency but not from a directive from the leadership. It came from a group of dedicated women who asked what they could do to pay tribute to the women who died at the Pentagon."

Secretary Mineta commended the women who conceived of, organized and led the quilt project. He recognized the contributions of Stacy Murphy, Kim Webb, Kim Hill, Thea Graham, Peg Young and Susan Lapham, all from BTS. "They are the 'Hearts and Hands Across the Potomac'," he said.

The quilt was unveiled at the Hearts and Hands Across the Potomac Ceremony at DOT headquarters.